The Black Bear

We had a satisfactory experience here. It’s pretty basic as you order at the counter and take your food to an open table to eat it, and you self clean up the plates and glasses for them. The biscuits and gravy are legendary but I found the biscuits to be a bit dry/hard. The other food around me eggs/bacon actually looked better. Coffee has a unique taste that might be better or worse than you expected. People are all nice there and the location is great, surrounded by shops. VictorB

Alaskan coffee is now my favorite! The Caramel Latte was creamy, rich, and tasty. I love the latte art in my foam! The atmosphere inside was upbeat and I felt right at home. Staff members were friendly, speedy, and professional. We ate the Avocado Toast, Breakfast Burrito, Granola Parfait, and a breakfast plate. All of the food came out in a timely manner and tasted delicious! The restaurant was surprisingly clean considering how busy they were - all the tables were wiped quickly and the area for returning plates was tidy. The Black Bear is super accessible with plenty of parking. It was a chilly day but the temperature inside was cozy. There was a selection of local artwork on the wall for sale that looked professionally painted. The shop felt very welcoming and had a great Alaskan identity. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting to experience great Alaskan coffee!

Food was ok. Made with fresh ingredients. A little bland. But they did provide hot sauce on all tables. I bet it gets very busy in peak season and might get difficult to find a place to sit in. The waiting staff are quick, polite, and efficient.

We came back here three times in two days! They were one of the few places we found in Denali with fresh, healthy food. We couldn’t stop coming back! So delicious.

So good we went multiple times! Could be a line in the morning when they opened. Make a mean latte. Staff was friendly. Flavorful tomato soup. Can take anything to go. Offer grab and go sandwiches. All of the brown rice bowls were hearty and worth the price. About 6 tables in back and bar seating.

Delicious, homemade food. We are in the area for two days and came here for dinner, breakfast and lunch, and probably will come again for breakfast tomorrow. Do note that it can take ~30 minutes to prepare your meal but it is well worth it. Don't miss their amazing selection of baked goods Including vegan, gf, and refined-sugar free options.

Great little coffee shop among the gift shops near the entrance to Denali national park. The latte I ordered was prepared perfectly with great tasting espresso and excellent milk texture and temperature. There are tons of options for drinks and plenty of pastries available as well! I highly recommend stopping here for your coffee needs!

Coffee good. Gets packed quick. When it gets warmer the outdoor deck looks fun to sit on. The breakfast sandwich was good with bacon. Coffee cake good too but they said they could not warm it up.

This restaurant is located on a strip of shops and other restaurants. You can't miss it because there is always a crowd. Even though it is always busy, they are pretty efficient. You order at the counter and someone brings out your food. For drinks, you wait for them to call out your name at the counter. They have to go sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. They also have hot food and a full service coffee bar. I ordered the London fog latte and the tofu melt. The tofu melt is an open face sandwich with tofu, cheese and avocado. It was so good. The London Fog latte was made to perfection . They have inside and outside eating. Outside seating is not shaded, but it has very nice of views. They do ask to bus your own tables as this is not a full-service restaurant. The staff was friendly and available to assist. Parking is on site but shared with the multiple businesses on the strip. Oh they have pastries. They looked amazing, but I didn't get to taste them.

Best place to get coffee in the morning just make sure you get there early before all the tour groups get there. I recommend the sludge cup so you can get lots of espresso and lots of caffeine to feel your amazing days around the Denali area.

Amazing food in cozy cafe. It is located just outside denali national park. Love this place for vibe. We were seated on time and served hot charred carrot soup with bread and jackfruit sandwich. Food is tasty and located at prime spot. Loved service n food.

Yum! We've been eating a lot of hotel dining room food, so it was really wonderful to have real, regular food like I would eat if I had my way every day. I had Avocado toast with bacon added. The pickled onions were so yummy as was the amazing homemade made focaccia and basil. My companion got the BLT with avocado added. Homemade lemonade was so refreshing not too sweet at all. And did they mention the baked goods? Sweet potato gingerbread that was a lovely treat also. I can't wait to go back tomorrow for a breakfast burrito

The coffee here is great, but the pastries are next-level. I was planning to take pictures, but the strawberry lemon muffin and apple cake didn't stand a chance--I ate them too fast. Ended up coming back three days in a row during our stay in Denali because it was that good.

We loved this place! Such a cute spot and we love that it's open for all meal times. Would be a cozy breakfast spot with a coffee and espresso bar and pastries. They serve beer, and we enjoyed the somewhat limited lunch and dinner entrees, like the pork loin and curry. A great portion size, very fresh with a variety of veggies included. Loved the mountain coffee shop aesthetic.

What a great little gem in Denali! They have a great breakfast and good service. Thankful to come across them. Most places in Denali are not good.

The food is good and service is fast. Ordered to-go of salmon salad and adobo chicken, and both are very tasty and have good portions.

Order at the counter and be seated. They bring the food out to you. We had focaccia bread and three dips for the table. Delicious! We ordered dinner and everyone enjoyed what they got. Small dining area, self-serve water. Offers beer and wine.

Delicious Breakfast! (Realizing I forgot to capture a photo!) Quaint breakfast spot and bakery - The house-made biscuits are a must! I recommend getting a breakfast sandwich and subbing a biscuit in place of the english muffin. Very filling Also. There are only about 6 small tables and some counter seating, but the turnover was quick. Service is quick and everything is fresh and hot

The food was great and they have the best coffee options. We came in early morning and while the place was busy, service was pretty fast. Got our drinks within few minutes and food after a bit. We got breakfast burrito and the lumberjack and both tasted fantastic. The potatoes in the lumberjack were perfect crispy and seasoned. We sat outside with beautiful views and couldn't have asked for a more perfect start to our day. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Denali NP or traveling through.

Mixed review here - it's getting a 5 for their incredible pastries and coffee but a 2 for their breakfast. Literally we went twice for coffee and pastries and it was a 10 out of 10, you can feel the love in whomever did the baking. The second day, we ordered breakfast to go - a bacon and sausage breakfast burrito, avocado toast and biscuits and gravy. The biscuits were rock hard and extremely over baked. We drenched all the gravy on the biscuits and you still couldn't cut it with a knife. The avocado toast had a few measly under ripe slices of avocado on a very flat and hard bread. It was described as house made focaccia and it was hardly that, seemed like day old hard bread and was inedible. My husband who eats everything didn't even eat it! The burrito was just ok but at $20 ($12 and was charged $8 for bacon and sausage add ons), I would've expected something extraordinary. Starf was nice but I'll just stick to coffee and a sweet treat here!

Randomly walked in here after your bus dropped us off at hotel. We ordered the Braised Brisket, and Siracha glazed pork. We shared these with 4 people. Plenty of food and it was all delicious! There are so many coffee and tea options. The cafe seems small but order at the counter, grab a table and dinner will be brought to you. Bus your own tables.. we got super lucky and were there for open mic night! Amazing talent!

Food was great but took a long time to arrive and we were there around 2pm for a late lunch. You order at counter and seat yourself. very limited inside eating area and ok outside eating area. Food was the chicken bowl and the BLT which were excellent.

Solid breakfast and lunch spot that's only a few miles away from Denali National Park's visitor center. Their baked goods (tried their peanut butter cookies, pecan coffee cake, and focaccia) were home made and absolutely fresh and delicious. The portobello sandwich was very tasty. The focaccia was super fresh and the taste of the portobello coupled with tomato and arugula was divine. The avocado toast was served over the same bread and it was seasoned perfectly. The chicken bowl was chicken with black beans and pico de gallo on a bed of brown rice. I added some hot sauce on top to add some heat but otherwise it was well balanced. The baked goods looked so good so we bought a few and they were terrific. Chunks of peanut in the cookie and the coffee cake had a good layer of topping on it. We're in the area for a few days so we will likely stop in again. In terms of service, you order up front and try to grab a table. It wasn't too busy when we were there so there were no issues with seating. They have self serve water and you bus your own dishes on the way out. Overall it was a pleasant experience and highly recommend it for the quality of food a which is fairly priced.

Food was fair. Hot food not hot. Good taste. Three of us dined and total was $85 for 3 entrees and 2 bakery items. Guilt tip requested at payment. Order at cash register and they delivered food but card on table said we needed to clear our own table. We asked for 2 more tiny tortillas and they wanted to charge. I am an ex chef and restaurant owner and know the business. This one falls way short. Go Buy a bakery item and then eat somewhere else.

My family ate here every morning during our Denali stay. Delicious food, delightful service and vibe, and much coveted gluten free options. Even the teenager loved this place. Whether you just need a quick coffee or tea, a snack, breakfast, or lunch, Black Bear is a gem!

Very vegetarian friendly. Very good coffee. Portobello breakfast sandwich was a treat. Ability to sub portobello for any meat rare in Alaska and greatly appreciated. Worth it to come here for that reason alone. Breakfast Bearito starts off pretty basic with the ability to add portobellos or other good vege options. Again, appreciated. Order at the counter, food brought to your table, self bus. About the only restaurant in "Glitter Gulch" I would recommend; plus the always reliable Subway (don't mean to lump Black Bear and Subway together, but its a real shame such a nice park has a tour bus tourist trap for a neighbor). Definitely would return.

Did not expect to find food this good in Denali where it's basically a strip of shops and restaurants open only for tourist season. Came in for dinner and had the Sriracha pork tenderloin with sides of brown rice, cabbage slaw, and Swiss chard. We also ended up going there for breakfast everyday. Being the best place in town, it does get pretty crowded at breakfast.

Food was great, crowded inside. Portions are pretty small, but wonderful ingredients. Staff is wonderful. Best meal we've had in Denali/glitter Gulch so far.

Decent drip coffee, but the prepackaged curried chicken sandwich I just got is literally horrible. $14 - limp, not fresh lettuce, of which there was a lot, and dry chicken filling. The flavour was bland, and I fail to detect any Curry flavour at all. This sandwich lacks mayonnaise seriously. I don't recommend this. Go to Subway

Outstanding food, tasty breads and a strong view! Loved the brisket and banana bread. Eat local!

Quaint coffee shop in the middle of Glitter Gultch! They make their own syrups. Today they were peppermint, vanilla, Carmel, and lavender. They have a variety of gluten free treats that actually taste great. We got the apple cake and berry oat bar, both were tasty. There were a ton of people but they really pumped out the drinks. They do the fancy designs in the top of the drinks. This one was the coolest!

Food quality was indeed great. Coffee could be a bit stronger but overall good. Would definitely recommend it

My fiancé and I stopped here for brunch after a hike in Denali National Park. We were very hungry and The Black Bear delivered! The breakfast burrito was delicious, but could have been a little bit bigger. The avocado toast was delicious and unique. The only negative was the iced latte, which was not the best, especially when compared to lattes from Kaladi Brothers. However, it provided the necessary caffeine, and after eating and resting in the lovely outdoor seating, we were ready for more adventuring in the park. Would visit again!

I wanted to like it but the server is rude, i paid for a coffee and she filled it halfway and when i tried to ask for more she ignored me. Waste of money and i was planning on going for breakfast but not after that experience.

Friendly family owns the establishment, and was very hospitable. great coffee and food, and nicely decorated and cleaned, when many shops in Denali are old and/or trashed. highly recommend stopping here. coming from ND, we felt at home here!

Lovely brunch establishment outside of Denali NP. They serve vegan and GF options as well. Was really wanting to try the Sourdough Flapjacks but because we got there later in the morning, they were already sold out. They said they only make so much per day and it's a popular item. Their pastry case has some pretty amazing baked goods, especially their coconut loaf! Yum! There's also a case with drinks and pre-made sandwiches if you want to stop by and pick up lunch for the bus tour or your day out at Denali. There's a small dining area to the left of the entrance with about 6 tables. It's seat yourself and bus your own table style. Everything we got was good, especially the Happy Bowl. The chimichurri sauce that came in the bowl was super yummy. They close at 2:00 pm so get there before then if you want to give it a try! Support small, local busineses!!

Initially was trying to eat at Fannie Q's at the Denali Princess Lodge, but the wait was 45 min to an hour. Saw on maps the Black Bear was across the street, so decided to try it. Limited dinner menu, but got the pork tacos and chicken adobe. Both were good and good sized portions. Also had a nice smoothie. Quick and friendly counter service, but limited seating.

A true local gem in the heart of Denali. All of the biscuits, English muffins, foccacia bread, scones, muffins, breads, and more are made fresh daily. Loads of items are available for vegans, vegetarians & gluten-free individuals. A farm to table dinner is served nightly Wednesday through Sunday. And I'm not going to forget to mention all of the delicious beverages. I'm a big fan of the Chai Lattes and Ben Clouds. Do yourself a favor and visit Black Bear!

Good: we ordered Bohemian and Avocado toast. Avocado toast was tasty. Bad: 1) Focaccia toast which came with Bohemian was tiny. Didn't put butter or jam on the toast, even if it was mentioned to come with either. 2) For all meals, portion size is tiny compared to price. Every item has add ons which are very steeply priced. For example, add 2 eggs for $5 on an avocado toast sandwich which is already priced at $13 before taxes. 3) Found they are selling about 10 pieces of cherry for $10 - that's ridiculous ( see attached pic) 4) Inside Sitting arrangement is cramped with no ventilation. 5) You have to order food and clean your own plates - prices don't justify the service that they are offering.

Great place to grab breakfast and a beverage! All of the staff were friendly and courteous, service was fast, and the food was excellent! My group got the breakfast burrito, the BLT, and the biscuits and gravy and we all agreed that we would definitely come back here.

Fantastic food and great service. Nice selection of gluten free items. Prices sk much better than at the lodges

Ok all I ordered was a chai and a smoothie. Chai was sweet but the smoothie was just the most flavorless thing I've ever had. But other than that, they were nice and it came out fast just the smoothie was just real booty.

Fresh food. Had a great sandwich for a quick grab and go. We didn't try any but the Bakery looked great!

The best thing about this place were the baked goods: the brownie and the coconut bread were delicious and fresh and rich. The okay thing about this place were the drinks: the hot chocolate was supposed to taste like it was made with milk--but it was more like water, and the chocolate flavor was more mild than strong. The chai was spicy in the best way and both drinks were served hot enough. The worst thing: the chili verde burrito. Everything was so bland. It was mostly rice with little meat. The only thing about with taste was the pork, which actually tasted like raw pig--gross and ugly--rather than like pork that was seasoned and properly cooked. The ambiance is okay. Place is kind of small in the first room othree tables that are comfortable enough to sit in. Ambient noise from the people working behind the counter, but no annoying apparent piped in music. The service was fine. They admitted to using some water to dissolve the chocolate, but were adamant about the rest being milk. Good for sweets and drinks but avoid the food. It is both nasty and way too pricy. $17 for the burrito which was the size od a small Pilsbury crosant canister.

Excellent Adobo chicken platter with delicious corn salad, and brisket platter had tender chunks of seasoned beef with refreshing coleslaw slaw. All homemade. Desserts look amazing though we didn't save room to try them. Laid back, comfortable vibe. Overlooked restaurant that you should try!

Short walk from Princess Lodge and way better selection. Excellent food and beverages! The lumberjack was my husband's favorite and I really liked the happy bowl with eggs!

Great coffee but breakfast was mediocre. Pastries were great. Although food was better then princess lodge across the street.

Lovely little find in an area surrounded by typical tourist restaurants. The menu has tasty choices and delicious drinks. My only regret is not sampling any of the amazing looking baked goods.

Ugh! Spent $6.50 each on pastries that were terrible! The coffee cake was about as salty as a potato chip on top, the chocolate chip cupcake was as dry as a week old cupcake. Super dense and dry. The saving grace was delicious banana bread. Coffee was pretty good. Instead of posting and not telling management I decided to bring to the front and explain why I was unhappy, I did mention that their banana bread was delicious. The cashier was pretty nice, I explained why and just added that I'm a baker and have won awards for my baking ( I do and help professional bakers with recipe development) but said it in a nice way as I believe it's a professional courtesy to make them aware. Another employee walking by sarcastically said, "is it award winning?" About the bananas bread. I found this incredibly rude. The cashier offered a refund or other pastries and I appreciated that.

Great service. Also, wanted to let everyone know that this location is STILL OPEN for business. COVID-19 Measures: Given the vaccine rollout and Alaska's low number of COVID patients, things are very laid back here. I haven't seen many people wearing masks around Denali to be honest. Location: The Black Bear is located in a shopping center with gift shops and restaurants nearby. This is one of the few areas where you can go out to eat for miles. Food: I really liked my breakfast sandwich and the coffee hit the spot. Service: The staff were all super nice. Verdict: Visit for the coffee and cool people.

We stopped in this afternoon for a quick lunch after arriving to Denali. We were told they had great food by our hotel staff and they sure were right! They have a small menu but it contains a good variety of options. My husband had an order of biscuits and gravy with a side of potatoes. The potatoes were super well done, maybe a little too much, but other than that he really enjoyed his meal. I had a cup of the potato leek soup and the avocado toast. The soup was hot and delicious and full of fresh ingredients. The avocado toast was probably the best one I've ever had. It had a layer of a spread that was super delicious. The service was excellent. You order your food at the counter and pay and then the staff delivers it to your table. We only waited a few minutes. They were super quick even though the restaurant was rather full. I would highly recommend this spot for breakfast/brunch.

It was OK. I got eggs with biscuits and the eggs were nothing to write home about, but the biscuit was pretty good. The guy at the cashier was super friendly and very likable, but the barista got my order wrong several times and I had to have it remade three times. The oatmeal cookie here was a bit dry as well. There is a great ambience though and lots of outdoor seating so you can enjoy the sun and the views.

First and last time to visit here. Guy taking orders spent 15 minutes taking one order from an obvious friend so extra slow service. Telltale sign was saying they'd see each other tonight. Ordered 3 items for breakfast but this cafe does NOT heat up any of their breakfast pastries, breads etc. -- no microwave in the kitchen? Microwave available for patrons would be a good idea for warm breakfast in 40 degree weather or BIG improvement would be HEAT IT for paying customers! The pecan coffee cake was very dry and topping extra salty so couldn't eat it. Banana bread was good but cold from the cooler so would have been so much better warm. Ordered chocolate cupcake that was so crumbly and dry that I couldn't eat it. Self cleanup with very few seating areas and dirty tables. I would NOT go back.

This is a perfect place for breakfast! Very friendly staff with nice small cafe vibe. On top of that food is amazing and reasonably priced! They are not trying to charge tourist prices here..

Good food but a small space so tough seating with groups larger than 4. Good pastries and coffee as well. Price point slightly better than surrounding restaurants.

The GO TO SPOT for Coffee and Breakfast if in the area. We stayed across the street at the Princess Lodge and 'unofficially' this was highly recommended by the staff, who didn't want to admit it. Located in a line of shops. Great Coffee and Breakfast spot. Has all the prerequisites for a fast paced coffee shop. A refrigerator deli section with sandwiches, yogurts and drinks to go. They have about 12 tables inside and about 6 outside tables on the porch. We became addicted to their homemade biscuits and gravy with potatoes. My wife thought the outside was a little hard, but I thought they were fine. Gravy was excellent and potatoes were great too. Coffee was nice and hot and strong. We had both regular coffee and mochas during our two visits. Cheaper and more local support than staying on the Princess side. Very friendly and lots of locals who were nice to share their experiences. You can also get sandwiches and drinks for the road.

BEST COFFEE AND FOOD You will not regret stopping here or waiting in the line. Fair prices and even better service. Incredible food!! They have plenty of dairy, free, gluten-free options for all guests. It's such a cute and cozy little spot in the park. It's close to the Princess Cruise hotel, and is a perfect start to a great day exploring Denali! There's not many tables inside, so don't plan to sit with a big group but you can take anything to go. Also, the chai is sweet -- in case you're like me and are wondering.